Turkey has announced the reopening of the Yayladagi border crossing with Syria, which has been closed since 2013 due to ongoing fighting. The decision is linked to the need to ensure the safe and voluntary return of millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Reuters reports.

"We are opening the Yayladağı border crossing point to prevent congestion and ease traffic. Our goal is to manage the process of voluntary return of migrants, making it as comfortable and safe as possible," — Erdogan noted.

Turkey, which hosts some 3,7 million Syrian refugees, has long advocated for their return to their home areas. The opening of the crossing is seen as a major step in implementing the resettlement program. The Yayladagi crossing will be one of the key routes for people to return to Syria.

In addition to Ankara's efforts, the process of deporting Syrian citizens is expected to be stepped up in European countries as well. Sources claim that in 2025, EU countries may deport around 300 to 400 Syrian citizens. This is due to attempts to regulate migration flows and reduce the burden on Europe's social systems.

Experts note that the return of Syrians will depend on the stabilization of the situation in their home country, which currently remains extremely unstable. However, Turkey and the EU will try to act as quickly as possible.